IR Final Flashcards
(32 cards)
1
Q
- Wealthier, more developed countries (mostly in the Northern Hemisphere), like the U.S., Europe, and Japan.
A
Global North
2
Q
- Poorer, less developed countries (mostly in the Southern Hemisphere), including Africa, Latin America, and parts of Asia.
A
Global South
3
Q
- A ranking system by the UN that measures life expectancy, education, and income to show how developed a country is
A
Human Development Index (HDI)
4
Q
- When shared resources (like air or oceans) are overused because no one feels personally responsible for protecting them.
A
“Tragedy of the Commons”
5
Q
- Money or aid that wealthy countries give to help poorer countries with development, disaster relief, or security
A
Foreign Assistance
6
Q
- A 1968 book warning that overpopulation would cause mass starvation and global crises
A
The Population Bomb by Paul Ehrlich
7
Q
- Something that benefits everyone, like clean air or peace, whether or not they help provide it
A
Collective Good
8
Q
- A global agreement to stop using chemicals (CFCs) that were destroying the ozone layer. It was very successful
A
1987 Montreal Protocol
9
Q
- Growing the economy without harming the environment or using up resources for future generations
A
Sustainable Development
10
Q
- Cutting down forests faster than they can grow back
A
Deforestation
11
Q
- When fertile land turns into desert, usually due to overuse, drought, or bad farming
A
Desertification
12
Q
- Harmful substances in the air, water, or soil that damage the environment and health
A
Pollution
13
Q
- Long-term changes in Earth’s temperature and weather patterns, mostly caused by human actions
A
Global Climate Change
14
Q
- Problems that lead to the loss of animal and plant species, like habitat destruction and pollution
A
Biodiversity Challenges
15
Q
- A UN group of scientists that studies climate change and gives governments advice
A
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
16
Q
- A 1997 international treaty to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Some countries, like the U.S., didn’t join
A
Kyoto Protocol
17
Q
- A 2015 global deal to limit global warming to below 2°C. Almost every country signed it
A
Paris Climate Agreement
18
Q
- The idea that population grows faster than food, leading to shortages and crises.
A
Malthusian Dilemma
19
Q
- A view that rich countries keep poor countries poor by controlling their trade and resources
A
Dependency Theory
20
Q
- A strategy where countries focus on making goods to sell to other countries to grow their economy
A
Export-led growth
21
Q
- When countries try to grow by making things themselves instead of buying them from other countries
A
Import Substitution
22
Q
- When businesses or governments put money into another country’s economy
A
Foreign Investment
23
Q
- When countries with lots of natural resources (like oil) actually end up poorer because of corruption or mismanagement
A
Resource Curse
24
Q
- The gap between people who have access to the internet and technology and those who don’t
A
Digital Divide
25
Why is it hard to solve environmental problems like climate change or deforestation?
- Because these are global problems and no single country owns them, it’s hard to get everyone to work together. Countries have different priorities and costs involved.
26
What is the global consensus on climate change?
- Most scientists and countries agree that climate change is real and caused by humans, and urgent action is needed.
27
What is the world’s population? How have countries dealt with population growth?
- Over 8 billion. Some countries (like China) have limited births, while others (like Hungary) try to increase births with financial help.
28
Why is there a wealth gap between the Global North and South?
- History of colonization, unfair trade systems, corruption, lack of education, and unequal access to technology and resources.
29
How much do rich countries give in foreign aid?
- Most give less than 1% of GDP. The U.S. gives about 0.2–0.3% of its budget. The U.S. gives the most in total dollars, but not the highest percentage
30
What’s wrong with the idea that countries should just copy the U.S. to develop (modernization theory)?
- It ignores local culture, history, and global power imbalances. Some countries may need different paths based on their situation
31
What are some other ways countries can grow their economies?
Focus on education, regional trade, technology, or clean energy. Some use microloans or community-based development.
32
Trump’s First 100 Days:
- Signed record number of executive orders, reversing many Biden policies
- Launched mass deportations and cut federal workforce
- Pardoned January 6 defendants and targeted political opponents
- Imposed new tariffs, sparking trade tensions
- Faced legal challenges and public controversy
